10 Best VPS Hosting Services (Fast AND Reliable) in 2023

A virtual private server (VPS) can offer things you could only dream about with shared hosting: high-end performance, more robust security, and greater control over configuration, all at a lower price than a dedicated server. Or at least that’s how it’s supposed to work. In reality, many hosts offer subpar hosting at premium VPS prices.

That’s why the Website Planet team put dozens of VPS hosting providers through rigorous testing. We tested everything from server infrastructure, to performance, to customer support, and came up with the 10 best options on the market right now.

My top recommendation is Scala Hosting. Its managed options and wide selection of resources make it an outstanding entry point for those that want to graduate from shared hosting to VPS hosting. That said, the best VPS for you will depend on your needs and expertise. So, read on to discover your ideal provider, or sign up for a Scala plan right now!

What We Look For in the Best VPS Hosting Services

As a VPS is more expensive than simple shared hosting, our expectations were accordingly higher. Only providers that met all (or most) of the following criteria made our list:

• Powerful servers. It doesn’t matter how many vCPU cores you buy – if the processors are ten years old, your server won’t perform at its best. We looked for providers that update their infrastructures regularly to offer exceptional speeds and uptime.
• Full control. A VPS hosting service should allow you to access and configure your server to meet specific requirements. We only included providers that give you SSH access and full control over your VM (virtual machine).
• Easy scalability. Need more power? These hosts will let you add CPU cores, RAM, storage space, and bandwidth with a couple of clicks. It’ll also be just as easy to scale back down when you no longer need the extra resources.
• Managed support. VPS hosting is easy-ish to use once you configure your server, but setup can be challenging if Linux isn’t your mother tongue. Some of the providers on our list will help you get started as part of their managed services.
• Value. Low prices can be attractive, but what good is a cheap VPS if it comes crumbling down during a traffic surge? The providers on our list are not only affordable (some of them are insanely cheap), but they also offer reliability, generous resources, and lots of features for your money.

1. Scala Hosting – User-Friendly and Affordable Managed VPS

Scala Hosting is by far the best option if you’re making the switch from shared hosting to a VPS for the first time. Its website is easy to navigate and understand (unlike some of the jargon-filed VPS homepages out there), and the starting process takes only a couple of clicks. Scala Hosting also gives you a choice between managed and self-managed VPS plans – and its cheapest VPS plans are actually the managed ones.

You can customize your managed VPS plan with exactly as much CPU, RAM, and storage as you need. And instead of the traditional cPanel, Scala Hosting offers its proprietary SPanel to help you configure these settings. SPanel is somewhat easier to navigate, and it includes similar functionality to cPanel.

Besides its world-class performance, Scala Hosting also includes a bunch of extra goodies, such as a premium Softaculous license and OpenLiteSpeed web server software. Besides, you can always pay a little extra to install the classic cPanel to your server if you miss it that much.

Features:

• WordPress-ready. Scala Hosting’s SWordPress Manager might win an award for the world’s silliest name. But it’s actually super useful. Website staging and backup/restore are enabled so you can safely test changes on your site without breaking it.
• Free domain and dedicated IP. These nice bonuses are included with Scala Hosting’s managed VPS hosting.
• Node.js support. If you’re a developer, you probably know that most hosts only let you use Node.js on self-managed servers. Not Scala Hosting, though. Scala Hosting fully supports this runtime environment on its managed VPS. You can even ask customer support for help setting it up.
• SShield Security. This is an automated, AI-driven security service that runs in the background in order to prevent malicious attacks on your server. It’s included for free in all managed VPS plans.

Find out more about Scala Hosting’s features in our in-depth, expert review.

2. Kamatera – Fully Customizable Cloud VPS Backed by Powerful Hardware

The case for Kamatera is simple: this is a provider that offers cutting-edge cloud VPS solutions, and it does so while keeping prices low. Now, as you know, the cloud is a magical thing. It’s stable, it’s easy to scale, and it makes money vanish from your wallet (faster than usual). The mere mention of “the cloud” gives most hosts an excuse to up their prices – but Kamatera is different.

Kamatera keeps its infrastructure up to date without massively increasing the cost of hosting. It also lets you customize your server with up to 104 vCPU processors, 512 GB of RAM, and 16,000 GB of SSD storage. You’re not locked into predefined configurations, and you can pay by the hour, rather than monthly or yearly.

That said, Kamatera is not the most beginner-friendly provider. It’s easy enough to use for experienced admins, but while it gives you dozens of server images to help you get started, you’ll need to use the command line to get your VPS working. If you know Linux, are willing to learn, or pay extra for a Windows OS license, you’ll be fine.

If not, you’ll have to buy the managed services add-on to make the most of this provider’s infrastructure. And that’ll cost you extra.

Features:

• Free trial. You can have 30 days and a $100 credit to get a taste of what Kamatera has to offer. If you decide the service is worth your money, you can pay to use the same setup after the trial is over.
• Load balancers. The Cloud Load Balancer distributes all incoming traffic across multiple backend servers, which means your VPS can handle more heat without slowing (or breaking) down.
• Built-in firewall. Kamatera offers its proprietary Cloud Firewall with every VPS configuration, so you don’t have to set one up yourself. But beware – you’re still responsible for your server’s security.
• Managed services. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty with any of the back-end stuff, Kamatera will provide a regular or high level of support depending on whether you purchase the Basic or Extended service. This incurs a fixed monthly price per server, so it’s particularly advantageous with massive 32+ vCPU configurations. Not so much for tiny VPSs.

My colleague got some really impressive performance results when he tested Kamatera – you can read more in our in-depth, expert review.

3. IONOS – Affordable VPS Hosting With Customized Assistance

If you know your way around a server and you’re on a tight budget, IONOS could be your top choice. That’s because IONOS offers self-managed VPS plans for as low as $2.00. It’s not a price-for-quality trade-off either – though it’s not as jam-packed with bonus features as other hosts, IONOS provides top-notch performance and a decent variety of resource configurations.

Also, when you sign up, you’ll automatically get a personal support representative assigned to you. That means that whenever you contact customer support, you’ll be in contact with the same person. Over time, this can mean having someone on your side that understands your goals and the best way to help you achieve them.

Keep in mind, though, that the reduced price tag comes at the cost of some extras, so while IONOS offers outstanding core features, it doesn’t offer much else. Also, the dedicated support isn’t the same thing as a managed service, so you will need to know your way around a server, at least to some extent.  

Features

• Intuitive mobile app. IONOS offers an intuitive and responsive mobile app to help you manage your servers wherever you are.
• Unlimited traffic. Regardless of your plan, IONOS will never cap your traffic or charge any upcharge.
• Interactive invoicing. You can see exactly how many resources you’re using and exactly how much that’ll cost you at any time.
• IONOS infrastructure. If you go for an IONOS VPS, you’ll be able to integrate with IONOS’ network ecosystem, which includes domain registration, website building, and email managing tools. 

Read our expert IONOS review for more details.

4. Hostinger – Super-Cheap Self-Managed VPS for Tech-Savvy Users

Hostinger built its fame on dirt-cheap hosting with uncompromising performance, and its VPS hosting plans are no different. You can easily upgrade from shared hosting without spending too much money to start with, but keep in mind that this is a self-managed service, so you’ll be in charge of pretty much everything.

If you have some experience with server operating systems and you want to keep costs low, Hostinger could be the right fit. Tech support is available 24/7, and the agents will answer most questions, no matter how technical. They won’t configure your VPS or update your software, but they will tell you how to do these things yourself.

Plus, if your server ever goes down (as you ask yourself the age-old question “what does this button do?”), Hostinger will help you get it back up and running. Not bad, considering the cost.

Features:

• Choose your OS.  Your options include CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Suse, all easily installed from templates. 
• Control panels galore. Most hosts give you a few different choices, but Hostinger takes it to a whole new level. You can opt for the classic cPanel and WHM combo, or if you’d rather go with a free alternative, there’s Plesk, Webmin, Webuzo, CyberPanel, and others.
• Dedicated IP. Having your own IP can boost your SEO, and can lower the risk of getting your email accounts blacklisted. This is especially useful if you run lots of email marketing campaigns.
• Huge knowledge base. Hostinger has loads of tutorials that’ll help you configure your VPS, but you should have some experience with the command line before you delve into the knowledge base.

You can read more about Hostinger in our expert review.

5. Liquid Web – Fully-Managed VPS Hosting with Root Access

Liquid Web finds the right balance between flexible and fully-managed hosting. It’s a bit pricey compared to other providers on my list, but it’s also the easiest way to get into VPS hosting while still having the freedom to do anything you want with your server.

Well…almost anything. You probably shouldn’t use it to stream the adventures of your pet blobfish. Because nobody wants to watch the world’s ugliest creature.

Now, when I say “fully-managed,” I mean that Liquid Web can take care of everything for you, from server setup to ongoing maintenance. You can do things yourself if you prefer, but if you ever need help, all you have to do is ask. I contacted support many times while testing the platform, and the agents were always glad to answer my questions.

As for performance, Liquid Web has a track record of reliable uptime and loading speed. It’s one of the fastest VPS providers I tested, and it gives you plenty of room to grow before you have to switch to a dedicated server.

You can read more about Liquid Web in our expert review.

Features:

• Premium control panels. cPanel, Plesk, and InterWorx are all supported, but a license isn’t included with any VPS plan. Still, InterWorx is offered at a very low price, and it lets you create an unlimited number of websites.
• Free site migration. Even if you’re moving from a different control panel, Liquid Web will help you migrate your website with minimal downtime. The tech team will also make sure that everything works properly after the transfer.
• Managed security. A built-in firewall and DDoS protection are included in every plan. You can also ask Liquid Web to help out with PCI compliance if you want to process payments directly on your website.
• Server monitoring. Most providers expect you to notify them of a problem before they start working on a solution. Liquid Web proactively monitors your server at all times. If anything comes up, the tech team jumps right in.

6. FastComet – Managed Hosting with Worldwide Data Centers

FastComet offers fully-managed cloud VPS hosting that lets you focus on your business while a tech team takes care of server administration for you. It is a little on the pricier side, but in return, you’re getting a level of support few other providers will offer.

That’s not just at the beginning either. You can ask the tech team to install anything for you, at any time. Plus, if something breaks down (and trust me, something will break eventually), there’s no need to panic. All you need to do is throw the issue over to support and let them take care of the rest.

FastComet also offers an impressive number of data centers around the world, including locations in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Wherever your audience is, FastComet has you covered. It performed well in our performance tests, too – you can read more about that in our expert review.

Features:

• cPanel, WHM, and Softaculous. Most VPS hosts make you buy your own control panel license, but FastComet includes cPanel for free. You can also ask support to include Softaculous, which makes it easier to install WordPress and other scripts, and WHM which allows you to manage multiple cPanel accounts for reselling. 
• Cloudflare CDN integration. Cloudflare can speed up your website for visitors from across the globe, but it’s notoriously difficult to install on a server. With FastComet, the CDN is already built into the cPanel dashboard. You just have to turn it on.
• ModSecurity. This web application firewall (WAF) module is another thing that makes managing your VPS so much easier. FastComet will take care of most security measures for you, although you can also customize these settings to your liking.
• Automatic backups. FastComet takes snapshots of your server on a daily basis, but these are not stored off site unless you pay extra. Still, it’s a good thing to have if you accidentally mess something up and need to restore a previous version of your server.

7. InMotion Hosting – US-Based Managed and Self-Managed Servers

InMotion Hosting has a little something for everyone. If you’re a developer looking to keep costs low, InMotion’s self-managed cloud servers could work for you. However, no dashboard is included with these VPS plans, so you have to manage and configure everything via the command line. Or, you can opt for a managed VPS.

The managed servers are a better place to start if you’re not particularly tech-savvy. cPanel and WHM are included in the baseline price, as are Softaculous and InMotion’s BoldGrid website builder for WordPress. Once your server is set up, it’s just as easy to use as simple shared hosting.

But before you get too excited, you have to know that InMotion Hosting’s managed VPS configurations are definitely on the expensive side. The service is worth the extra cost if you can afford it, but if not, there are cheaper options.

Features:

• Launch Assist. You get two hours with an InMotion Hosting  sysadmin who will help you set up and optimize your server. If you already have a website, you can also use this time to have it transferred by a professional.
• UltraStack infrastructure. Managed servers are preconfigured with Nginx, Brotli compression, and several layers of caching for faster loading speeds. The best part? You don’t have to configure caching yourself.
• Burstable RAM. If there’s a surge in traffic, you can use more RAM than is normally allocated to your VPS. Your website continues to run smoothly and your costs stay the same. For a while, at least.
• 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s not technically a free trial, but it is the most generous guarantee on this list. Basically, you can use InMotion Hosting’s VPS hosting for just under three months, then cancel your plan for a full refund.

To find out more about InMotion Hosting’s features and performance, you can read our in-depth expert review.

8. A2 Hosting – Flexible VPS Hosting for Low- to High-Traffic Websites

Like InMotion, A2 Hosting has a broad range of VPS plans, including managed and self-managed servers. That said, the marketing can be a bit confusing. Lift, Mach, Runway, Supersonic – what does it all mean? Let me simplify to save you some time.

Lift and Mach are A2 Hosting’s managed VPS plans. They’re more expensive because they include a cPanel license and support for setting up your server. If you have a relatively small website, one of the Lift configurations should do the trick. But if you need more power, Mach gives you more RAM per vCPU core, as well as A2’s more powerful “Turbo Servers.”

Runway and Supersonic are A2’s self-managed VPS plans. They’re much cheaper, but they don’t include cPanel licenses, and you have to configure the server yourself. As with the managed plans, the difference between these is that the Supersonic plans come with more vCPU cores, extra RAM per core, and Turbo Servers.

Despite the bombastic names, this diverse portfolio is actually a good thing. Whether you have a small online store or a massive, high-traffic blog, and whether you can manage your own server or you need help getting set up, there’s an option here for you.

Find out more about A2 Hosting’s feature in our expert review.

Features:

• Turbo Server upgrade. Aside from extra RAM, A2’s Turbo Servers have faster NVMe drives, easy WebSocket configuration, and compatibility with ESI (Edge Side Includes). Managed Turbo Servers also benefit from LiteSpeed and LiteSpeed caching.
• Integrated caching. APC, OPcache, and Memcached are all set up for you on the Lift and Mach servers. These optimizations are especially useful for PHP-based websites.
• Built-in security. Reinforced DDoS protection is available on both managed and self-managed servers, but the managed plans also come with a dual firewall, a malware scanner, and automatic software updates.
• “Anytime” money-back guarantee. Even after the first 30 days, you can apply for a refund if you change your mind about A2’s service. This isn’t a full refund, but you will get your money back for any unused hosting.

9. InterServer – Cheap, Yet Reliable VPS Hosting for Experienced Users

InterServer is one of the cheapest VPS providers on this list. Hostinger and IONOS have slightly lower prices, but only during the first term. Of all the hosts I’ve tested, InterServer is the most affordable host after plan renewal. Plus, if you buy at least four VPS slices (four vCPU cores and 8GB of RAM), you get managed support for free.

Still, I wouldn’t recommend InterServer for beginners. InterServer’s UI is dated, confusing, and to be perfectly frank, an ugly thing to look at. If you know what you’re doing, it’s fairly easy to use. But if you’re new to VPS hosting, there’s a good chance you’ll need help.

Which brings me to my next point: InterServer’s customer support is available 24/7, but it can take hours for them to fix a simple issue, especially if you don’t get managed support with your VPS. All in all, I’d say that InterServer lets you get away with paying very little for outstanding performance, but only if you already know your way around a server.

Features:

• Your choice of control panel. InterServer offers the cPanel, PLESK, and DirectAdmin control panels, so you can manage your server however you prefer. 
• High availability. If your server goes down, users get redirected to a copy of your VM that’s hosted elsewhere. Your website or app continues to run, while InterServer buys time to fix the issue.
• Cheap remote backups. Automatic backups stored off site are more affordable from InterServer than from other providers. You can also create backups manually and download them to your PC.
• No steep renewals. Most hosts have attractive headline prices, but hit you with outrageous renewal rates when the first term runs out. InterServer doesn’t do this. What you see is what you pay, so to speak – both when you sign up and when you renew.

You can find out more about InterServer’s features in our expert review.

10. Cloudways – Managed Hosting On the Largest Providers Out There

While it does offer its own managed VPS (or rather, its parent company does), the unique thing about Cloudways is that it offers full management of VPS servers from some of the largest, enterprise-level providers out there. That means that it can give you access to state-of-the-art hosting from providers like Google Cloud or AWS, but without all the difficulty that comes with handling those beasts.

However, while Cloudways’ cheaper plans cost as little as $11.00 per month, the plans with access to the really exciting features cost a pretty penny. It’s definitely worth it if you can part with the money, but that won’t be a possibility for many. If you want, you can try Cloudways for free for 3 days, which may give you a sense of how the service works. 

Features

• Your choice of five different providers. Your choice of servers from DigitalOcean, VULTR, Linode, AWS, or Google Cloud.
• 1-click server cloning. Cloudways allows you to clone an entire server with just a single click.
• 15+ monitoring metrics. Do you want to keep an eye on your server’s performance? Cloudways offers more than 15 real-time metrics that allow you to monitor your VPS. 
• 24/7 support. Cloudways’ support is available at any hour for the full 365 days of the year. 

Read our expert Cloudways review for more details.

Which Is the Best VPS Hosting Service for Your Project?

As I said before, only the best, most reliable VPS providers made our list, so you can’t go terribly wrong with any one of them. That said, some are best suited for beginners, while others give you more freedom to customize your server. Some are super-cheap and basic, while others are more expensive with extra features.

If you’re not yet sure about your pick, these are my recommendations:

Scala Hosting is by far the best choice for beginners to VPS hosting. It’s user-friendly, it offers plenty of resources, and the service is fully managed – all at an affordable price.

If you know your way around a server, Kamatera offers outstanding VPS hosting. It’s not the cheapest provider on this list, but it is still affordable, and it offers an unmatched level of customizability and performance.

Finally, if you’re looking for something dirt-cheap but reliable, IONOS is the choice for you. It offers solid performance at incredibly low prices if you don’t mind having to manage your server yourself.

FAQ

Which is the best VPS hosting provider?

This depends on your specific needs, but you do have a couple of excellent options. Scala Hosting offers managed VPS that is a good entry point if you’re upgrading from shared hosting. If you know your way around a virtual server, Kamatera is another great choice with amazing scalability.

How much does VPS hosting cost?

Usually, more than shared hosting. That said, you don’t have to (and honestly shouldn’t) spend a small fortune to get your own virtual server. Some of the best VPS providers offer affordable plan options.

If you’re looking for a cheap, but high-quality service, IONOS offers reliable VPS hosting at affordable rates.

Are there any free VPS server hosting providers?

Sadly, no. Our team at Website Planet has spent months looking for a free, yet reliable VPS host. We’ve come across a lot of scams, and that’s about it. However, some of our favorite VPS providers offer generous free trials – for example, Scala Hosting offers a generous “anytime” money-back guarantee.

How much RAM do I need for VPS hosting?

That depends. For a small website with low traffic, 2GB of RAM is likely enough to get you started. But if you have a massive site with over a million pageviews per month, you’ll need anywhere between 8GB and 16GB of RAM, possibly more. And with this volume of traffic, CPU power and caching technology are just as important as RAM.

The best way to decide is to monitor your current CPU and RAM usage, and make an educated guess based on your expected growth. It doesn’t have to be a perfect decision. Most VPS providers let you scale up or down almost instantly, so you can always add or remove RAM as necessary.